D-Day veterans meet for the first time in 70 years

Joe Cattini and Denys Hunter reunited for the first time since they took part
in the Normandy landings

Image 1 of 6

British Normandy Veterans Joe Cattini, left, and Denys Hunter who were both in the same unit of Hertfordshire Yeomanry on Gold Beach on D-Day and met up again for the first time in 70 years Photo: Matt Cardy/Getty Images

Image 1 of 6

Dennis Dayman, 89 who served with the Kings Shropshire Light Infantry who landed on Sword Beach at Pegasus Bridge ahead of the 70th Anniversary of D-DayPhoto: Paul Grover

Image 1 of 6

British Normandy Veteran Raymond Shuck, who was a paratrooper on D-Day smokes a cigarette as he visits the D-Day MuseumPhoto: Matt Cardy/ Getty

Image 1 of 6

Ronald Perry, 90 7th Battalion Parachute Regiment a veteran of the Parachute drop around Pegasus Bridge with military enthusiasts Cafe Gondree ahead of the 70th Anniversary of D-DayPhoto: Paul Grover

Image 1 of 6

Veteran Alf Bradshaw visits the D-Day Museum in Southsea prior to their departure for commemorations in France on Friday on the 70th Anniversary of the Normandy LandingsPhoto: Robin Jones

Image 1 of 6

British Normandy Veteran, Vera Hay, 92, who was a nurse in a field hospital shortly after D-Day talks with fellow Legion d'Honneur recipient US Veteran Jack Appel, 90, who landed at Omaha as a signaler with the US 1st ArmyPhoto: Matt Cardy/ Getty

By Keith Perry

9:41PM BST 03 Jun 2014

They may be a little frailer, but their wartime memories are still razor sharp.

British Normandy Veterans Joe Cattini and Denys Hunter met on Tuesday for the first time in 70 years since they took part in the D-Day landings on the Normandy Beaches.

Mr Cattini, 91, and Mr Hunter, 90, were both in the same unit of Hertfordshire Yeomanry on Gold Beach on D-Day and attended a special ceremony at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard before setting off for France for the anniversary of the D-Day landings.

Friday 6th June is the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings which saw 156,000 troops from the allied countries including the United Kingdom and the United States join forces to launch the historic attack on the beaches of Normandy, credited with the eventual defeat of Nazi Germany.

A series of events commemorating the anniversary are planned for the week with many heads of state travelling to the famous beaches to pay their respects to those who lost their lives.